We continue our look back at some of our favorite wines from 2011 along with new bottles that wineries submitted as their own favorites.

Wines were divided into categories according to their type and/or varietal compositions. (A minimum of 10 submissions were required to create a category.)

Based on the wines submitted, we created the following categories: Best CA Bordeaux (red), Best CA Rhone (red), Best CA Burgundian (red & white), Best “Other” CA Red, Best “Other” CA White/Rosé, and Best CA Port/Dessert Wine.

Then, for our first round of tastings, the members of our panel that work (or have worked) in the wine industry gathered to select the best wines from each category. Those bottles will be tasted during the final round by the non-industry members of our panel. They’ll be voting for their favorites in each specific category.

The next category up is Best “Other” CA White/Rosé. In a nut shell, that means any white wine other than Chardonnay. (Chardonnay was the only varietal with enough submissions for its own category.) Sure, that’s a wide range, but it’s fitting in a way. After all, when it comes to sales, there’s Chardonnay and then there’s everything else. Here are the reviews for each submission.

 

Winery: Cedarville

Grape(s): Viognier

Region: El Dorado County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Organically & Sustainability farmed

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of peach, honeysuckle, and nutty suggestions rises up from a glass. A sip reveals floral, peach, and pear notes accented by suggestions of minerals and a hint of lemon zest. A wine that’s somewhat round, its lush fruit is in harmony with brighter highlights of flavor. If you’re a fan of balanced Viognier or unoaked Chardonnay, you should try this bottle.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Heller Estate

Grape(s): Chenin Blanc

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Organic Vineyards

Price: 20-25

Review:

A bouquet of honeysuckle, apricot, and tropical fruit greets the senses. Flavors of apricot guava, and apple mingle with suggestions of honey and floral notes. A round, slightly sweet white that’s lush and approachable, it’s a fine option for a warm spring evening or with lightly spiced Asian dishes.

Rating: 88

 

Winery: Lone Madrone

Grape(s): 42% Roussanne, 27% Viognier, 22% Picpoul Blanc, 9% Marsanne

Region: Paso Robles

Special Designation: Points West White

Year: 2009

Price: 25-30

Review:

A bouquet of honeydew, lemon custard, pear, honeysuckle, and nutty aromas greets you. A sip reveals flavors of melon and pear accented by notes of honey and nuts along with minerals and hints of citrus. A rich mouthfeel, balanced by a nice acidity, fans of round, refreshing white will enjoy this.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Margerum

Grape(s): Pinot Gris

Region: Santa Barbara

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Klickitat

Price: 20-25

Review:

Aromas of melon, tropical suggestions, and hints of citrus and white pepper can be found on the nose. Bright citrus flavors dominate the palate, complicated by hints of spice, melon, passion fruit and nutty suggestions. Fans of clean, crisp whites will enjoy this bottle. It’s great as an aperitif.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Martin’s Vineyard

Grape(s): Viognier

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2010

Special Designation: (none)

Price: N/A

Review:

Tropical notes, apricots, floral suggestions, and honey can be found on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of peach, apricot, and honeysuckle. A fairly round wine with a floral mouthfeel, it’s fairly dry but still has lush fruit flavors. Fans of creamier Chardonnays who are looking to branch out should give this bottle a try.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Opolo

Grape(s): Viognier

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2010

Price: 20-25

Review:

Aromas of pineapple, apricot, and mango mingle with notes of caramel and honeysuckle on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of tropical fruit, peach, and dried apricot with accents of lemon zest and floral suggestions. A rich, mouth-filling wine, fans of lush whites will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Peju

Grape(s): Cabernet, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Colombard

Region: Napa Valley

Year: (non-vintage)

Special Designation: Provence

Price: 20-25

Review:

Alluring aromas of raspberries, cranberries, and cherries are accented by floral suggestions on the nose. Bright red berries and floral notes dominate the palate. A Rosé, that’s not really a Rosé, the wine has nice balance, good body, and is not too sweet or bright. Pleasing and refreshing it hits the spot on a warm day and is well worth a try.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Scheid Vineyards

Grape(s): Pinot Blanc

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Mesa Del Rio Vineyard

Price: 20-25

Review:

A bouquet of melon and pear that mingles with notes of caramel and oak greets the senses. A sip reveals flavors of honeydew, peach, and pear with accents of creamy vanilla and sweet spice. A rich, mouth-filling white that has far more depth than many Pinot Blancs, fans of Chardonnay should try this as a wonderful alternative pairing for seafood dishes with a cream sauce.

Rating: 91

 

Winery: Scheid Vineyards

Grape(s): Syrah (Rosé)

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: (none)

Price: 15-20

Review:

Bright red berry aromas lead into floral hints and a bit of game on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of cranberry and cherry accented by floral suggestions and a hint of white pepper. A crisp wine with lively fruit, it’s fairly dry, so don’t expect sweet. Try a bottle if you like a clean, crisp Rosé.

Rating: 88

 

Winery: South Coast Winery

Grape(s): Viognier 40%, Roussanne 33%, Grenache Blanc 27%

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2009

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of tropical fruit, honey, and white-blossoms greet the senses. The palate is rich and round with flavors of lemon custard, tropical fruit, and floral suggestions. A lush wine, with a few bright, citrusy highlights, fans of smoother wines with a fuller body will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 90

 

Winery: Steele Wines

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Special Designation: Shooting Star

Region: Lake County

Year: 2010

Price: 10-15

Review:

A lovely nose of lime, gooseberry, honeydew, and fresh fig aromas greets the senses. Mellon, gooseberry, and grapefruit flavors meld with suggestions of candied banana and dried figs. A vibrant acidity gives the wine plenty of life but in no way overpowers the fruit. Those who prefer crisp, mouth-filling Sauvignon Blancs will enjoy this offering, especially at its price.

Rating: 89

 

Winery: Steven Kent

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc (68%) & Semillon (32%)

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Lola

Price: 15-20

Review:

A citrusy bouquet with accents of gooseberry, minerals and sage rises from a glass. The palate offers flavors of gooseberry and citrus fruits with mineral, spice, and nutty suggestions. A fairly round wine that still has a nice refreshing acidity, fans of supple, dry wines will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 91

 

Winery: Tamas

Grape(s): Pinot Girgio

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2008

Special Designation: (none)

Price: 5-10

Review:

On the nose, notes of green apple, melon, and citrus fruits greet the senses. A sip reveals flavors of apple, honey dew, and limeade, along with a hint of white spice. A light, refresh wine that’s offers more fruit than many Pinot Grigos, it a very pleasant aperitif or ideal to be enjoy with most seafood. Simply put, it’s a very nice everyday value.

Rating: 87

 

Winery: Wente

Grape(s): Pinot Blanc

Region: Monterey County & Livermore Valley

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Small Lot

Price: 20-25

Review:

Aromatics of apples, pears, figs, and vanilla greet the senses. Flavors of apple, fresh figs, vanilla, and a floral notes emerge after a sip. A fairly round, rich white, it’s somewhat soft on the palate but still has interesting complexities. If you’re a fan of subtle yet full-bodied wine, this is a bottle to try.

Rating: 89

 

Winery: Yorkville Cellars

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon

Region: Mendocino County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Price: 20-25

Review:

Lovely aromas of citrus fruits and honey combine on the nose. A sip unfurls flavors of lemon, sweet lime, and grapefruit with suggestions of minerals and honey. The lush fruit is in harmony with the wine’s dry, balanced acidity. Barrel aging gives it a nice, round body. This is a rich wine white that will compliment crab or shellfish very nicely.

Rating:91

 

Winery: Zaca Mesa

Grape(s): Roussanne

Region: Santa Barbara County

Year: 2007

Special Designation: (none)

Price: 20-25

Review:

The nose is rich with floral notes, complimented by fresh figs, apricots, lemon, sweet spices, and minerals. The palate is a nice refection of the nose with a round, slightly creamy mouthfeel. A wine with a good balance of floral suggestions and fruit, it’s more complex than many white wines out there.

Rating: 90

 

 

The Finalists, as selected by the panel, will include the follow wines:

 

Cedarville 2009 Viognier

Lone Madrone 2009 Points West White

Martin’s Vineyard 2010 Viognier

Peju Provence

Scheid Vineyards 2009 Pinot Blanc

South Coast Winery 2009 GVR

Steven Kent 2010 Lola

Yorkville Cellars 2009 Eleanor of Aquitaine

 

Check back on January 19th for the results of the final round of tastings and to see which wines we’ve selected as California Wines of the Year 2011.